Modular landscaping structure

Abstract

A polymeric landscaping structure, for uses such as retaining walls and landscape edging, that may be co-aligned without an exposed end. The structure has a U-shaped exterior with exterior end walls. The U-shaped exterior forms a cavity in which an interior wall is disposed such that when the structure is cut to a predetermined length, the interior wall will be exposed and form an exterior end wall. The structure has premolded bores which can be co-aligned for various lengths of structures required for multi-structure installations.

We claim: 
     
       1. A modular structure for retaining walls and the like, comprising: a preformed, elongated module comprised of a polymeric material and having a central longitudinal module axis extending the length of said module substantially centrally thereof,   said module comprised of first, second and third elongated and substantially parallel side walls of substantially equal length, the first and third side walls positioned laterally opposite one another and the second side wall joining said first and third side walls in parallel, laterally spaced apart relationship, whereby the lateral dimension of the module perpendicular to said central axis is substantially constant;   a pair of exterior end walls formed integral with said side walls of substantially rectangular cross-section, said end walls lying in substantially parallel planes perpendicular to said central module axis, whereby the modular structure is substantially rigid and formed with a substantially U-shaped cross-section with the open side thereof opposite said second side wall;   a plurality of elongated module mounting elements mounted in the cavity defined by the U-shaped cross-section, each having a longitudinal major axis disposed perpendicularly to the plane of said second side wall, said elements facing the open side of the structure and positioned adjacent opposite respective exterior end walls of said structure, each of said mounting elements spaced laterally from an adjacent first side wall a first predetermined distance substantially equal to one-half the lateral dimension, each of said mounting elements formed with an open-ended bore aligned with the longitudinal axis of a corresponding mounting element for receiving structure staking means inserted into said bore, at least one of said elements spaced at the first predetermined distance from one of said exterior walls in a direction parallel to said central module axis, and   at least one interior wall in said cavity located a second predetermined distance from one exterior end wall, which is substantially equal to said lateral dimension, said one interior wall having a planar surface lying in a plane substantially parallel to a plane containing a surface of said one exterior end wall, whereby said one interior wall may serve as an alternative exterior end wall to said structure in the event a length of the structure extending from said one interior wall is severed from the structure substantially parallel to the plane of said one interior wall.   
     
     
       2. The modular structure according to claim 1 and further comprising; a second planer interior wall of rectangular cross section in said cavity and lying in a plane between and substantially parallel to the planes of said exterior end walls, said second interior wall located between another pair of mounting elements and constructed to serve as an alternative to said exterior end wall in the event a length of the structure extending endwise from said second interior wall is removed from the structure. 
     
     
       3. The structure according the claim 1, and wherein said one interior wall is of greater thickness than one of said exterior walls. 
     
     
       4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein said one interior wall is substantially twice the thickness of an exterior wall, and wherein the module may be severed along a plane substantially midway between opposite surfaces of said one interior wall to provide a solid surface to each severed module. 
     
     
       5. The structure according to claim 1 and further comprising: a plurality of planer interior walls located between said exterior end walls and formed integral therewith, said interior walls lying in planes substantially parallel to one another and to the planes of said exterior end walls, and said mounting elements located between different pairs of said walls.   
     
     
       6. The structure according to claim 5, wherein each of said mounting elements is comprised of a rigid, elongated hub with said bore having an open end and extending at least partially therethrough, the axis of each bore being concentric with said major axis of its corresponding mounting element and extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of said second side wall. 
     
     
       7. The structure according to claim 6, and further comprising; a plurality of rigid supports of rectangular cross-section intersecting each one of said hubs and extending at acute angles with respect to said central module axis to said hubs to join opposite respective interior surfaces of said first and third side walls. 
     
     
       8. The structure according to claim 7 wherein said supports extended in a zig-zag manner throughout the length of said cavity alternately abutting said first and third side walls. 
     
     
       9. The structure according to claim 8 wherein the open end of each said bores facing said open side of said module is substantially flush with an adjacent side wall. 
     
     
       10. The structure according to claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of elongated, spaced-apart outwardly projecting shoulders formed on said module adjacent to the corner formed by the adjoining second and third side walls and extending parallel to said central module axis for engaging portions of a surface of another similarly constructed modular structure, thereby restraining movement of said module structure in a direction transverse to said central module axis and facilitating module alignment.   
     
     
       11. The structure according to claim 8 further comprising: a plurality of elongated, spaced-apart, outwardly-projecting shoulders formed on said module adjacent to the corner formed by the adjoining second and third side walls and extending parallel to said central module axis for engaging portions of a surface of another similarly constructed modular structure, thereby restraining movement of said module structure in a direction transverse to said central module axis.   
     
     
       12. The structure according to claim 10 further comprising: an inwardly extending, elongated recessed channel extending parallel to and formed in the module corner joining said second and first side walls for matingly engaging the shoulder of another similarly constructed modular structure.   
     
     
       13. The structure according to claim 12 wherein the exterior surfaces of said second side wall provides flat surfaces of the structure upon which a similar modular structure may be placed, and further wherein said shoulders are spaced apart in module areas including mounting elements and its corresponding opposite end walls. 
     
     
       14. The structure according to claim 1 which further comprises: a plurality of removable plugs insertable into said second side wall at locations overlying different ones of said mounting elements for covering the underlying bores.   
     
     
       15. The structure according to claim 14 wherein said bores extend completely through said module and have elliptically-shaped side walls connecting with said second side wall, and wherein each of said plugs has an elliptical edge for seating in one of said bores with an exterior surface thereof flush with said second side wall. 
     
     
       16. The structure according to claim 14 which further comprises a plurality of position location indicia formed on one of said side walls at locations substantially laterally opposite at least one of said interior walls. 
     
     
       17. The structure according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one opening extending laterally through said first and third side walls for venting the module. 
     
     
       18. The structure according to claim 17 wherein said opening is substantially aligned with one of said interior walls to facilitate the location of said one wall. 
     
     
       19. The structure according to claim 16 wherein said indicia comprise linear indicia in said side wall in alignment with said one interior wall for providing a linear cutting guide for the installer. 
     
     
       20. A plastic timber-like structure comprising: an elongated module molded from polymeric material as a major constituent and comprised of three side walls of rectangular cross-sectional shapes joined so as to form an open-sided structure of substantially U-shaped cross section with a pair of opposite side walls, an elongated interior cavity, and a longitudinal axis;   a plurality of mounting members mounted in said cavity, each member formed with an open-ended bore with the open end thereof facing the open side of the structure, the opposite end of said bore being covered, said members receiving structure supporting stakes inserted into their corresponding bores from the opposite end of said bores and through said one of the side walls overlaying said opposite ends of said bores;   a pair of said members located adjacent opposite respective ends of said cavity;   an interior wall of overall rectangular shape with substantially flat opposite end faces and extending transversely between said opposite side walls, with said end faces thereof lying in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;   a second pair of mounting members in said cavity, each of said members located adjacent an opposite end face of said interior wall, said interior wall serving as an exterior end wall for said structure upon removal of a length of said module extending from either one of the end faces thereof; and means on at least one of said side walls for determining the location of said interior wall exteriorly of said structure.   
     
     
       21. An artificial timber-like structure comprising: a rigid body of substantially parallelepiped shape molded of plastic material and having a longitudinal axis, a pair of substantially planar, exterior end wall portions at each end of said body;   at least one elongated mounting element in said body and having an wall defining a bore having a central axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis for receiving a fastening means inserted into said bore at substantially right angles to said body;   a third substantially planar wall portion in said body with the plane thereof substantially parallel to and between the planes of said end wall portions, whereby said third wall portion may comprise an alternative wall portion to an opposite one of said end wall portions in the event the latter end wall portion is severed from said body, and   said mounting element being located between one of said end wall portions and said third wall portion.   
     
     
       22. The timber according to claim 21, and additionally comprising, an elongated passageway extending transversely through said body for permitting water to flow therethrough, said passageway lying in or adjacent to the plane containing said third wall portion. 
     
     
       23. A landscaping module structure comprising: an elongated body molded of plastic material and having a longitudinal module structure axis and a U-shaped cross section with an exterior surface formed by three adjoining side walls, a pair of substantially planar exterior end walls at substantially right angles to said module axis, and on open side,   at least one substantially planar interior wall formed within the body in substantially parallel alignment with, and positioned between said exterior end walls, said interior wall having a substantially planar surface portion opposite one of said exterior end walls and adjoining portions of said side walls forming a walled cavity therebetween communicating with the open side of said body, said elongated mounting element having a longitudinal bore therein and mounted substantially centrally in said cavity with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said body, said bore receiving a fastener means inserted into said body and said mounting element.   
     
     
       24. The structure according to claim 23, wherein said bore extends through said body as a through-bore with an open end adjacent the body exterior surface, and further comprising: a cap insertable into the open end of said bore substantially flush with the exterior surface of said body for covering said open end. 
     
     
       25. The structure according to claim 24 and further comprising: means on the exterior surface of said body for locating said interior wall and/or said mounting element when said open side is covered. 
     
     
       26. The structure according to claim 23 wherein the dimension of said body perpendicular to said module axis is substantially constant, and wherein the bore of said mounting element has a length substantially equal to said dimension and is located along said longitudinal axis a distance of substantially one-half of said dimension from one of the said end walls. 
     
     
       27. The structure according to claim 26, wherein there are a pair of mounting elements adjacent different end wall portions with respective bores thereof located at substantially the same said distance from a respective end wall. 
     
     
       28. The structure according to claim 27 wherein a third wall portion is spaced inwardly from said one end wall portion a distance substantially equal to said dimension. 
     
     
       29. The structure according to claim 28 wherein there are a pair of third walls, each of said third walls spaced substantially the same distance inwardly from a different one of said exterior end walls. 
     
     
       30. The structure according to claim 29 wherein each of said third walls has a thickness greater than that of an adjacent exterior end wall. 
     
     
       31. The structure according to claim 30 wherein the respective wall portions defining each said cavity are substantially equal in size, whereby the interior periphery of each said cavity is substantially square as viewed from said open side. 
     
     
       32. The structure according to claim 31 and further comprising, a plurality of body reinforcing members mounted within said module and extending longitudinally between said cavities. 
     
     
       33. The structure according to claim 32 wherein said reinforcing members include a pair of intersecting struts abutting opposite ones of said side walls. 
     
     
       34. The structure according to claim 33 and further comprising a third cavity and a third mounting element located between the end pair of cavities and said pair of reinforcing members. 
     
     
       35. The structure according to claim 34 and further including shoulder means on said exterior surface of the module for inhibiting transverse displacement of the module. 
     
     
       36. The structure according to claim 21, wherein portions of said interior wall defining said bore are elongated in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       37. The structure according to claim 21, wherein said third wall portion is thicker in cross-section than an exterior wall portion. 
     
     
       38. The structure according to claim 26, wherein said adjoining portions of said side walls and said interior wall are dimensioned to define a substantially square shaped walled cavity, and said mounting element is centrally disposed thereon.